Tiger Woods has a history of slow starts at the Masters. In 1997, his first trip to Augusta National as a professional, he fired an opening-round 70 that included a front-nine 40. He won by 12 shots.
In 2001 and 2002, which also ended in Woods slipping on a green jacket, he also fired Thursday 70s. In 2005, his last Masters victory, he opened with a 74, presumably to give the field a fighting chance. He beat Chris DiMarco in a playoff. It should come as no surprise, then, that Tiger went out in 36 on Thursday afternoon, at one point, eight shots off the lead.
Then he made the turn, briefly forgot what day it was, and played like it was the weekend at Augusta. After three pars to start the back, he birdied the 13th, 14th, and 15th, and should've done the same on 16 and 17. Instead, he settled for pars, and if not for a poorly judged second shot on the final hole that led to bogey, Tiger could've easily been 5-under heading to Round 2. He signed for 70, good for T-21, and he'll no doubt spend the rest of his evening on the range.
While Tiger plodded along biding his time, Chad Campbell was playing out of his mind. He birdied the first five holes of his round, parred the next six, before another four-hole birdie binge. Campbell stood on the 17th tee box 9-under, with a legit chance to break the course record of 63 set by Nick Price and Greg Norman. Unfortunately, poor tee shots on the final two holes led to bogeys, and Campbell carded a 7-under 65. It was still good for the top spot on the leaderboard, although just one clear of Jim Furyk.
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Arnold Palmer was the honorary starter to begin the first round of The Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia on Thursday, April 9, 2009. (Gerry Melendez/The State/MCT)
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Arnold Palmer was the honorary starter to begin the first round of The Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia on Thursday, April 9, 2009. (Gerry Melendez/The State/MCT)
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Ryo Ishikawa (C) of Japan putts on the 18th green as Anthony Kim (L) of the U.S. and Rory McIlroy (R) of Northern Ireland watch during first round play at the 2009 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, April 9, 2009. REUTERS/Brian Snyder (UNITED STATES SPORT GOLF)
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Jeev Milkha Singh (L) of India shakes hands with Tiger Woods (R) of the U.S. after their first round play at the 2009 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, April 9, 2009. REUTERS/Hans Deryk (UNITED STATES SPORT GOLF)
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Adam Scott (R) of Australia shakes hands with Danny Lee (L) of New Zealand after their round during first round play at the 2009 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, April 9, 2009. REUTERS/Shaun Best (UNITED STATES SPORT GOLF)
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Tiger Woods (R) of the U.S. and his caddie Steve Williams walk to the 16th green during first round play at the 2009 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, April 9, 2009. REUTERS/Brian Snyder (UNITED STATES SPORT GOLF)
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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts to sinking a birdie putt on the 18th hole during first round play at the 2009 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, April 9, 2009. REUTERS/Shaun Best (UNITED STATES SPORT GOLF)
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Ryo Ishikawa (L) of Japan shakes hands with Rory McIlroy (C) of Northern Ireland and Anthony Kim (R) of the U.S. at the end of their first round play at the 2009 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, April 9, 2009. REUTERS/Shaun Best (UNITED STATES SPORT GOLF)
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Tiger Woods of the U.S. looks at his ball resting against the shoe of a patron after hitting his approach shot to the 18th green during first round play at the 2009 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, April 9, 2009. REUTERS/Shaun Best (UNITED STATES SPORT GOLF)
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Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain hits from a sand trap on the 18th green during first round play at the 2009 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, April 9, 2009. REUTERS/Shaun Best (UNITED STATES SPORT GOLF)
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Furyk, as he often does, quietly made his way around the course, steadily playing his game, sneaking up the leaderboard. He was in the group with Phil Mickelson and Camilo Villegas, two of the tour's most popular players who struggled on Thursday (but looked great while doing so).
Hunter Mahan, the unsung hero of the 2008 Ryder Cup is T-2 with Furyk, with Augusta native and former champion Larry Mize a shot back at 5-under.
Anthony Kim, Ryo Ishikawa and Rory McIlroy -- the most recently identified crop of youngsters to unseat Tiger -- played together and were unspectacular for most of the day. Kim signed for 75, Ishikawa a 73, and McIlroy an even-par 72.
But we're only 18 holes into this thing. There's plenty of golf left, and it starts in 12 hours when Mize, John Merrick and Drew Kittleson are the first group off the tee for Friday's round.
